Cuisine paves the way for Vietnam

Việt - Nhật - Ảnh 1. — Miss Sake Gifu Prefecture 2025 Yuki Nakamura performed the opening ceremony of the event - Photo: NGOC DUC

On the afternoon of December 5, the Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City coordinated with the Tajimi Sake Brewery Association (Gifu Prefecture, Japan) to organize the event " Discovering Gifu Sake 2025".

The event, with the participation of 10 wine production enterprises of Gifu province, is an opportunity to connect Vietnamese and Japanese enterprises.

Cultural features honored by UNESCO

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Japanese Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Ono Masuo said that each locality in Japan produces sake with its own characteristics, bearing the imprint of the climate and natural environment there. The art of making sake has been honed by Japanese artisans over many years and passed down through the centuries.

Mr. Ono emphasized: "Sake is therefore not simply an alcoholic beverage, but has long been an indispensable part of traditional Japanese ceremonies. The traditional Japanese art of sake brewing has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2024."

Việt - Nhật - Ảnh 2. — Consul General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City Ono Masuo at the event - Photo: NGOC DUC

Speaking with Tuoi Tre , Mr. Ono Masuo expressed his hope that this event could contribute to promoting the quintessence of traditional Japanese culinary culture, helping sake become as popular in Vietnam as sushi.

Mr. Ono emphasized that the culinary cultures of Japan and Vietnam have many similarities, such as considering rice as the main food, balanced diets of meat, fish, vegetables, etc. In particular, people of both countries enjoy enjoying wine and tea.

The two countries' territories also stretch from north to south, creating diversity in climate, geography and culture of each region.

"I think that because of these commonalities, Japanese cuisine has been and is loved by many Vietnamese people. Therefore, I hope that exchange programs like this will develop more and more strongly in the future," Mr. Ono shared.

Pho and Ao Dai are popular in Japan

Việt - Nhật - Ảnh 3. — Mr. Nakashima Daizo delivered the opening speech at the event - Photo: NGOC DUC

Mr. Nakashima Daizo, representative of the Tajimi Sake Brewery Association, said that cuisine and traditional costumes are important cultural bridges in Vietnam - Japan relations.

According to Mr. Nakashima, cultural exchange goes both ways. On the one hand, Japanese culture, especially cuisine, is increasingly accepted and understood by the Vietnamese public. This is reflected in the increasing number of Vietnamese people coming to Japan.

Community acceptance, along with a large population and young workforce, makes Vietnam an attractive market for Japanese businesses.

In contrast, the Japanese also know Vietnam through its cuisine and traditional costumes. The sake brewer affirms that bread, pho, and ao dai are Vietnamese cultural features that are very famous in the land of the rising sun.

"If Vietnamese businesses want to invest in Japan in the field of cuisine and culture, this is a market with great potential. Vietnamese cuisine and traditional costumes are very popular in Japan," Mr. Nakashima emphasized.

With these advantages, he hopes that more and more Japanese businesses, especially sake brewers, will come and open representative offices in Vietnam.